The chain, which recently opened at The Village at Odenton Station, was a key participant in MARC Riders Appreciation Day at the Odenton Station.

"We are happy to be here," said Mary Romeo, regional retail director for the company. "The people in Odenton have been wonderful."

Employee Aren Warner of Odenton greeted commuters with a smile as he offered free coffee and tea.

"It's a fun change," he said.

Aren's dad takes the train daily from Odenton to Washington for work He was hoping to see him arrive on the late train.

The Maryland Transit Administration was an organizer of the event and was on hand giving away train schedules, hand sanitizers, and pens.

"We haven't been out here in a while," said Donna Walsh, MARC customer service superintendent. "It's good to talk with the customers."

She told riders the highly anticipated bi-level cars, with amenities such as electric outlets at every seat, will start appearing on the tracks by mid-September at the latest.

The BWI Business Partnership was promoting its Guaranteed Ride Home Program.

Ben Cohen said the partnership came up with Rider Appreciation Day to encourage more people to use mass transit. One of the biggest obstacles commuters' face is a home emergency with no car to back home quickly. The Guaranteed Ride Home Program is a free service that provides MARC commuters with a rental car or taxi service in an emergency. To sign up, visit http://www.commuterconnections.org.

Claire Louder, president and CEO of the West Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, was out to support Baltimore Coffee & Tea.

"They are a company that is making it work here (at Odenton Town Center) and we want to give them our full support." Louder said. "It's wonderful to have Baltimore Coffee & Tea in our area."

Command Sgt. Maj. Rodwell Forbes, who became the senior enlisted man at Fort George G. Meade on Aug. 12, said he hasn't had a chance to use the MARC station yet.

"I have experienced the traffic, and I am looking forward to trying the train," he said.

Others out greeting commuters were George Johnson, the Democratic candidate for county executive, and state Sen. Jim Rosapepe.

"The Odenton Town Center is something we want to be very involved in, making it a gateway for riders," Johnson said.

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